Study Notes
PARAGRAPH 9
Thus not any eternal and original law of eternal and original Matter, but the nature of the action of cosmic Mind is the cause of atomic existence. Matter is a creation, and for its creation the infinitesimal, an extreme fragmentation of the Infinite, was needed as the starting-point or basis. Ether may and does exist as an intangible, almost spiritual support of Matter, but as a phenomenon it does not seem, to our present knowledge at least, to be materially detectable. Subdivide the visible aggregate or the formal atom into essential atoms, break it up into the most infinitesimal dust of being, we shall still, because of the nature of the Mind and Life that formed them, arrive at some utmost atomic existence, unstable perhaps but always reconstituting itself in the eternal flux of force, phenomenally, and not at a mere unatomic extension incapable of contents.
EXPLANATION
Thus, we understand that atomic existence of the Matter is caused by the nature of action of cosmic Mind. It is not caused by any eternal and original law of eternal and original Matter. Matter is not the fundamental reality. The fundamental reality is Sat. To create a starting point for creation of Matter an extreme fragmentation of the Infinite (Sat) was needed.
Ether exists as an intangible oneness without division and as an almost spiritual support of gross Matter. But it is not materially detectable as a phenomenon to our present knowledge. By subdividing the formal atom into essential atoms, breaking it up into the most infinitesimal dust of being we shall arrive at some utmost atomic existence. It may be unstable but always reconstitutes itself in the eternal flux (flowing out) of force, phenomenally. This is because of the nature of the Mind and Life that formed the atoms. We shall not arrive at a mere unatomic extension incapable of contents.
Unatomic extension of substance, extension which is not an aggregation, coexistence otherwise than by distribution in space are realities of pure existence, pure substance; they are a knowledge of supermind and a principle of its dynamism, not a creative concept of the dividing Mind, though Mind can become aware of them behind its workings. They are the reality underlying Matter, but not the phenomenon which we call Matter. Mind, Life, Matter itself can be one with that pure existence and conscious extension in their static reality, but not operate by that oneness in their dynamic action, self-perception and self-formation.
EXPLANATION
Unatomic extension of substance means, substance extending itself without atomic contents. It can only be found in the Sat of Sachchidananda. Normally material substance extends itself by aggregation of atoms. When it is unatomic there is no aggregation of atoms. Material substance coexist in space by distributing itself in space. Matter is the atomic extension of substance.
Only realities of pure existence (Sat), pure substance are unatomic. That is the fundamental reality. It cannot be found in created physical world. They fall under the domain of knowledge of supermind and form the principle of its dynamism. Pure existence is not a creative concept of the dividing Mind and yet Mind can become aware of them behind its workings. Only Matter is its creative concept.
Pure existence and pure substance are the reality underlying Matter. But they do not constitute the phenomenon of Matter. Mind, Life, Matter can be one with the pure existence and conscious extension in their static reality. But they do not operate by that oneness in their dynamic action in the world. Sat is oneness, Matter is division; Sat is static, Matter is dynamic.
PARAGRAPH 10
Therefore we arrive at this truth of Matter that there is a conceptive self-extension of being which works itself out in the universe as substance or object of consciousness and which cosmic Mind and Life in their creative action represent through atomic division and aggregation as the thing we call Matter. But this Matter, like Mind and Life, is still Being or Brahman in its self-creative action. It is a form of the force of conscious Being, a form given by Mind and realised by Life. It holds within it as its own reality consciousness concealed from itself, involved and absorbed in the result of its own self-formation and therefore self-oblivious.
EXPLANATION
In this paragraph Sri Aurobindo sums up what really matter is. Matter is a conceptive self-extension of being (Sat). Here conceptive self-extension means the Being (Sat) becomes the Matter as conceived in the Real-Idea of the Supermind. The Conscious Being (Sat) works out itself in the universe as substance or object of consciousness (apprehending consciousness – III status of Supermind). That is, the Conscious Being (Sat) sees itself as an object put out from itself. Imagine a painter watching his painting.
Cosmic Mind and Life in their creative action represent this substance of Conscious Being (Sat) through atomic division and aggregation as the thing we call Matter. This Matter is still Being (Sat) or Brahman in its self-creative action like Mind (as Chit acting as a subordinate of Supermind) and Life (acting as subordinate of Conscious-Force – Chit-shakti).
Matter is the form of the force of conscious Being (Chit-shakti). It is a form given by Mind and realised by Life. It holds within it, concealed from itself its own reality of consciousness. There is secret consciousness within the Matter. It is involved and absorbed in the result of its own self-formation. Therefore, it is self-oblivious (not knowing itself).
And, however brute and void of sense it seems to us, it is yet, to the secret experience of the consciousness hidden within it, delight of being offering itself to this secret consciousness as object of sensation in order to tempt that hidden godhead out of its secrecy. Being manifest as substance, force of Being cast into form, into a figured self-representation of the secret self-consciousness, delight offering itself to its own consciousness as an object, —what is this but Sachchidananda? Matter is Sachchidananda represented to His own mental experience as a formal basis of objective knowledge, action and delight of existence.
EXPLANATION
But Matter appears to us as brute and devoid of sense. And yet in reality, it is the delight of being (Ananda) offering itself to this secret consciousness as object of sensation. It is doing so in order to tempt the hidden godhead (secret consciousness in Matter) to come out of its secrecy.
Here Being (Sat)manifests itself as substance. Force of Being (Chit-shakti) casts itself into form, into a figured self-representation of the secret self-consciousness. Delight (Ananda) offers itself to its own consciousness as an object. Sri Aurobindo says, this can be what else than Sat-chit-ananda.
Matter is Sachchidananda. It is represented to His (Sachchidananda’s) own mental experience as a formal (meaning- represented by outward forms) basis of objective knowledge, action and delight of existence.